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Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment today to recognize the long and distinguished career of Mr. Thomas J. Pamperin of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA. After nearly four decades of public service, beginning with the U.S. Army and now as the VA's Deputy Under Secretary for Disability Assistance, Tom is retiring. From his days as a VA claims examiner in Milwaukee to his present leadership position, he has ably served our Nation's veterans.
Tom has earned an excellent reputation with Members of Congress and their staff, especially with that of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, of which I was proud to serve as chairman during the 109th and 110th Congresses. He also receives high praise from leaders of veterans service organizations, the Department of Defense, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice. He has represented the VA with distinction before the Congress, other Federal agencies, and foreign delegations.
During my chairmanship of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tom was the ``go to person'' for matters of critical importance to veterans, especially those seeking compensation for their war wounds. When time was of the essence, he cut through the red tape and personally saw to it that the veteran got the benefits that were due. More broadly, he has led efforts to improve the delivery of benefits to all veterans, including initiatives to ease the burden of proof for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, to enable veterans to begin the claims process before discharge from military service, to better coordinate the delivery of military and VA benefits, and to automate claims for higher education benefits under the new G.I. bill.
In particular, I thank Tom for the work he did in improving VA's evaluation of and ratings for veterans with traumatic brain injuries, TBI. Soon after becoming chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I asked former VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Daniel L. Cooper, about limitations on TBI ratings to 10 percent ``and no more.'' Tom played a significant role in VA's response: He developed temporary guidance so that VA could promptly address cases where the limitation should not be applied and developed final regulations to ensure more appropriate ratings in subsequent claims. Tom's actions had an immediate and sustained impact on the lives of veterans who were injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nearly 40 years of service to the Nation demonstrates a commitment to public service matched by few. Tom has worked tirelessly to ensure that veterans receive the benefits that they deserve, a goal that has become ever more challenging with increases in the number of servicemembers returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan who have serious injuries, the demand for G.I. bill benefits, and the number of compensable illnesses. Over the course of his career, Tom has devoted himself to delivering on the Nation's promise to care for the veteran and his widow. I applaud his dedication, hard work, and countless achievements, and I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him for his many years of service to the country and to the many veterans whose lives he has improved in such crucial ways. His record is an example of public service at its best, and I deeply appreciate his long commitment to those who have worn the nation's uniform. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and know that all of us who have counted on him over the years will miss him.
Tribute to Thomas J. Pamperin
Mon, May 9, 2011
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment today to recognize the long and distinguished career of Mr. Thomas J. Pamperin of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA. After nearly four decades of public service, beginning with the U.S. Army and now as the VA's Deputy Under Secretary for Disability Assistance, Tom is retiring. From his days as a VA claims examiner in Milwaukee to his present leadership position, he has ably served our Nation's veterans.
Tom has earned an excellent reputation with Members of Congress and their staff, especially with that of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, of which I was proud to serve as chairman during the 109th and 110th Congresses. He also receives high praise from leaders of veterans service organizations, the Department of Defense, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice. He has represented the VA with distinction before the Congress, other Federal agencies, and foreign delegations.
During my chairmanship of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Tom was the ``go to person'' for matters of critical importance to veterans, especially those seeking compensation for their war wounds. When time was of the essence, he cut through the red tape and personally saw to it that the veteran got the benefits that were due. More broadly, he has led efforts to improve the delivery of benefits to all veterans, including initiatives to ease the burden of proof for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, to enable veterans to begin the claims process before discharge from military service, to better coordinate the delivery of military and VA benefits, and to automate claims for higher education benefits under the new G.I. bill.
In particular, I thank Tom for the work he did in improving VA's evaluation of and ratings for veterans with traumatic brain injuries, TBI. Soon after becoming chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I asked former VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Daniel L. Cooper, about limitations on TBI ratings to 10 percent ``and no more.'' Tom played a significant role in VA's response: He developed temporary guidance so that VA could promptly address cases where the limitation should not be applied and developed final regulations to ensure more appropriate ratings in subsequent claims. Tom's actions had an immediate and sustained impact on the lives of veterans who were injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nearly 40 years of service to the Nation demonstrates a commitment to public service matched by few. Tom has worked tirelessly to ensure that veterans receive the benefits that they deserve, a goal that has become ever more challenging with increases in the number of servicemembers returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan who have serious injuries, the demand for G.I. bill benefits, and the number of compensable illnesses. Over the course of his career, Tom has devoted himself to delivering on the Nation's promise to care for the veteran and his widow. I applaud his dedication, hard work, and countless achievements, and I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking him for his many years of service to the country and to the many veterans whose lives he has improved in such crucial ways. His record is an example of public service at its best, and I deeply appreciate his long commitment to those who have worn the nation's uniform. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and know that all of us who have counted on him over the years will miss him.
